is it normal to have a lot of air leak past the rings on a new engine that's never been fired?
here's what is going on....
i had to pull a valve spring off and one of the locks broke (some cheap crap that came on the assembled heads). i bought a new set of locks and replaced them. when i put air in the cylinders, 5 of them leak a LOT of air past the rings. i filed the rings myself so i know the gap is right. should i be concerned about this since the engine has never been fired? a couple of the sealing cylinders started out leaking then sealed up. will the rest do that once it runs?_________________

No. The motor has not been fired and the rings are not where near seated. If you do a leak test it should be while it is hot so that the end gap has closed up a bit from the normal heat of running the engine. Run it then give it a check._________________2001 Focus 2.0 Zetec
stock cams, bolt-ons and tune
15.63@87 MPH 1/4mi

this is the first time ive put air in the cylinder of a new engine. it doesnt even have the oil pan on it. i was shocked at how much air was escaping. i had to move really fast changing out those locks because my little "pancake" compressor couldnt keep up.

it does have forged pistons with small skirts. the engine is on the stand and every time i put air to the cylinder, it would rotate to the bottom.

Rotate the engine back and forth a bit while the air is going and it will sometimes shift the rings a bit and seal up better.

Just be sure the piston is at BDC not TDC when you fill it and attempt to rock the piston. 90 psi on the top of the piston will rip your arm off if you are at TDC and the motor decides it wants to push the piston down while you have a hold of a wrench attached to the crank.

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